Check it Out!

Ask these questions to evaluate your

child care options:

Does the person who will be caring for your

child have special training in early childhood
education, First Aid and CPR?

How long has the child care provider been

providing child care?

If there is more than one child care provider in

the setting, is the total number of children in the
group still small (group size)?

Is one child care provider caring for just a few

children (low child/adult ratio)?

If you are considering a more formal child care

program, is it state licensed or regulated? Is it
nationally accredited?

Have satisfactory criminal history background

checks been conducted on each adult present?

Has the program been inspected by the licensing

agency within the last 12 months?

Does the child care provider welcome drop-in

visits, parent ideas and involvement?

Does the child care provider get on the childrens

eye level to talk with them and give them lots of
attention and encouragement?

Are there planned activities for children to do as

well as lots of time for free play?

Are materialssuch as books, blocks, toys and

art suppliesavailable to children all day long?

Does the place look clean and safe and does

everyone wash his or her hands often?

Does the child care provider have written policies

and procedures, including emergency plans?

Does the child care provider have references?

You know your child bestwill your child be

happy there?

For a more in-depth list of child care questions, download our

booklet, Is This the Right Place for My Child?: 38 ResearchBased Indicators of High-Quality Child Care at www.naccrra.org
Helpful Hint: You can copy and take this checklist with you
on visits, or use the Evaluating Child Care Worksheet that
has additional information and room for writing notes. This
worksheet is available on the Child Care Aware Web site,
www.ChildCareAware.org or by calling 1-800-424-2246.

720-0714_CCAPub110_NEW_EN.indd 2

Child Care Aware is committed to helping parents find the best

information on locating high-quality child care and child care
resources in their community. In partnership with Child Care Resource
& Referral agencies (CCR&R), Child Care Aware builds consumer
awareness and supports families in making choices for the care and
education of their children.

Finding Help Paying

for Child Care

For additional resources or help in

finding your local Child Care Resource
& Referral agency (CCR&R), call:

1-800-424-2246
TTY Line: 1-866-278-9428

ChildCareAware.org
For local information contact:

Your child is priceless . . .

But paying for good child care can be a struggle. In fact, child care is probably the second
largest expense in your budget after rent or mortgage payments.
By following these steps to child care budgeting, you may be able to reduce child care costs
or get some help paying child care bills.

Child Care Aware, a program of the National

Association of Child Care Resource & Referral
Agencies (NACCRRA), is partly funded by the
Child Care Bureau (CCB), Office of Family Assistance
(OFA), Administration for Children and Families
(ACF), U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
2009 NACCRRA, www.naccrra.org

110e #720-0714

1-800-424-2246

ChildCareAware.org
10/23/09 1:52 PM

Five Steps
Healthy Child
Care Budgeting:

Find Out What Kind of Help May Be Available

to

The following child care assistance programs help families with the high cost of child care. Each type of child
care financial assistance has different qualifications, so work with your local CCR&R and your employers human
resources department to make sure you get all the facts.

1
Plan Ahead
Start thinking about child care options and cost as
far in advance as you can. No matter what type of
care you are consideringa child care center, care
in someones home, or care for an infant, toddler,
preschooler or school age childfinding the right
child care option or help with child care expenses
can take some time.

2
Call the Experts
Begin the search by calling your local expertsyour
Child Care Resource & Referral agency (CCR&R).
CCR&Rs can give you the facts about child care.
They can also provide a list of child care options and
available financial assistance in your area.

Call 1-800-424-2246 or visit

ChildCareAware.org to find the
CCR&R in your area.

720-0714_CCAPub110_NEW_EN.indd 1

$$State Child Care Subsidies

$$Federal Earned income Tax Credit (EITC)

Child care subsidies are available in every state to help

families with the cost of child care. Usually, child care
subsidies are available for working families earning lowincomes, receiving TANF, or in some cases enrolled in
school. If eligible, you will pay part of the cost while the
rest is paid directly to your selected child care provider.

You may be able to lower your taxes and even get money
back if you qualify for the EITC. To qualify, you must be
working full- or part-time and make less than a certain
amount based on family size. You do not have to owe any
taxes to get a refund using EITC.

$$Local Programs

Be a Smart Consumer
When you are at work, you want to know that your child
is getting the kind of high-quality care that all children
need to be healthy, happy and ready for school.
The Check It Out checklist in this brochure helps
you evaluate the value of the child care you are
buying for your family. You can use this checklist in
a child care center, a family child care home (care in
someone elses home), or for an in-home provider
who comes to your home.
The money you pay goes toward the caregivers
salary and on-going education and training so they
can meet your childs needs. Your child care fees
also help purchase food, toys, equipment, supplies,
and pays for insurance, rent or mortgage and other
necessary expenses.
Once you have evaluated your options and decided
on a child care setting, be an involved and informed
consumer. Visit often and participate in events at
your childs program. This sends a strong message
to your child and your childs provider that you think
what your child is doing and learning is important.

Local government, United Way agencies, or other

community or faith-based organizations sometimes
provide child care scholarships.

$$Employer/College Support
Your employer may provide child care scholarships,
discounts to certain programs or on-site child care at
reduced rates. Colleges or universities may also have
programs to help with child care costs.

$$Child Care Program Assistance

Your child care provider may offer scholarships,
discounts or a sliding fee scale.

$$Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Programs

Many states offer free or low cost prekindergarten
programs for 3- and 4- year-old children. Eligibility
requirements vary by state but the goal of all
prekindergarten programs is to make sure that children
are prepared for kindergarten. Public schools and other
child care settings offer prekindergarten programs
during school hours.

$$Head Start and Early Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start are federally- and
sometimes state-funded full- or part-day programs that
provide free early education and other services to help
meet the health and school readiness needs of children
in income eligible families.

$$Federal Child Tax Credit (CTC)

If you have a dependent child under age 17, you may
be eligible for the Child Tax Credit, which can be worth
hundreds of dollars per child. The income eligibility for
the CTC is much higher than for the Earned Income Tax
Credit, but you still do not have to owe any taxes to use
the Child Tax Credit.

5
Consider All Options
Think about what your family needs and take a close
look at your budget. Are there alternatives to paying
full-time child care? Is it possible or desirable to work
fewer hours? If you are in a two-parent household,
can you work at different times and share some
hours of child care? Could you share child care
expenses with another family?
The most important thing is that your family and
child are healthy and happy. By planning, getting the
facts and using all available resourcesespecially
your local CCR&Ryou are off to a good start in
making the best choice for your family.
Visit ChildCareAware.org or call 1-800-424-2246 for
more information on financial assistance and other
child care and parenting resources.

$$Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

If you have a child under the age of 13, pay for child
care and owe federal income taxes, you may be eligible
for this tax credit.

$$State Earned Income and Dependent

Care Tax Credits
Many states offer their own earned Income or Child and
Dependent Care tax credits. These credits are similar to the
federal ones. In some states, you do not have to owe any
taxes to get the State Child and Dependent Care credit. You
can get both federal and state Earned Income and Child and
Dependent Care credits.

$$Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs)

Your employer may offer a Dependent Care Assistance
Program, which allows you to have up to $5,000 a year
deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis. The
money is placed in a special account to be used for
child care tuition reimbursement. You should never
put more money in this account than you will actually
spend because you will lose unspent funds at the end
of the year. You cannot claim any money you put in a
DCAP for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
10/23/09 1:52 PM